Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa is probably the most famous painting in the world. It was painted by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) between 1503 and 1519.
The painting is also known as La Giaconda, the last name of the model who was painted. The painting is owned by the French Government and is shown at the Musée du Louvre in Paris.

The Mona Lisa is famous for various reasons. One of the reasons is that it was painted by one of the most famous artist ever Leonardo da Vinci.
Leonardo da Vinci was not only an artist, he was also a scientist, inventor, and a doctor.
Another reason for its fame is the smile of the Mona Lisa, which is often described as mysterious.
In 1516 Leonardo started working for the French king François I and took the Mona Lisa with him to France. The painting came in French possession after Leonardo died, the painting was kept at the Palace of Fontainebleau.
The painting also hung at the bedroom of Napoleon Bonaparte before it was moved too the Louvre after the French Revolution.

The Mona Lisa was stolen in 1911 by Italian patriot Vincenzo Perugia who worked at the Louvre and believed the painting belonged to Italy.
He was arrested in 1913 when he tried to sell the Mona Lisa to a gallery in Florence, Italy and the painting returned back to the Louvre.